At least Ricky Ponting and Marcus North were definitively out. If Australians need a grievance to explain away Mitchell Johnson's erratic bowling and the deep technical flaws in Phillip Hughes' batting, they could cite the controversial dismissals of Simon Katich, Hughes and Mike Hussey on this fourth day at Lord's.

What we needed was an Australian Didier Drogba to march on to the field in his flip-flops and shriek "It's a disgrace" into a Sky camera. Ponting is the closest the Ashes holders have to a Drogba but he confines himself to glares.

Third umpires, though, will seem a grand idea down under after three decisions went against Ponting's suddenly ragged side. In October the ICC will roll out its Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) to allow players to challenge decisions they believe to be incorrect, as they do, in a different form, with line calls at Wimbledon.

Katich fell to a no-ball from Andrew Flintoff that was missed by the umpire. The bowler's lead foot landed beyond the crease before Australia's senior opener, who was on six, slashed it to Kevin Pietersen at gulley.

Hughes' removal was the most contentious and is bound to provoke long-running Australian ire, because Ponting's men may suspect Strauss of claiming a catch he knew had bounced fractions of a second before it reached his fingers. The England captain had his digits under the cherry by the end, but did it graze the grass first? It certainly appeared that way on the replays. Ponting thought it might have, and told Hughes not to walk until the possibility of a review had been discussed.

None came, in contrast to the Nathan Hauritz non-catch off Ravi Bopara yesterday, and Hughes traipsed off, with 17, as Australia slid to 34 for two. Not even Pointing could dispute the fall of his own bails when he dragged a Stuart Broad delivery on to his stumps. But the hotspot monitor suggested no contact between bat and ball when Hussey wafted at one from Graeme Swann and Paul Collingwood took the catch. Swann then bowled North, through the gate. Nothing to complain about there.

Highly marginal umpiring decisions were not the root cause of Australia's disintegration in this match. Up until tea, only Hussey and Michael Clarke had made it past 50 in either innings. Ponting's batsmen faced a crushing 521-run England lead. Australia's bowling attack fell apart and will need rebuilding before Edgbaston.

But UDRS did seem a much better idea by the end of play, even if there is confusion about which of the contentious dismissals could have been referred upstairs. Keep an eye out for angry Australians in sandals, looking for a camera to shout into.